SONG PREMIERE: Veteran Picker/Songwriter Ed Snodderly Shares True Americana Grit On “Chimney Smoke” Feat. Amythyst Kiah

Neil Young once sang about a certain “unknown legend” on his 1992 Harvest Moon album. A waltzing love song to his then-wife Pegi who had a “far away look in her eye.” Yet if we take that theme and pull out the cinematic flair, there is certainly many an unknown singer-songwriter legend. Ed Snodderly, while well-known amongst his peers certainly deserves the widespread recognition his musical resume deserves.

Since his 1977 debut, Sidewalk Shoes, Snodderly has released L.P.s on Sugar Hill and other prestigious roots-oriented labels. He recorded and performed as the Brother Boys with duet partner Eugene Wolf. His songs have been covered by Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Missy Raines, and others. In 2000, he played a minor role (credited as “Village Idiot”) in the Coen Brothers’ film, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

In addition to his work as a musician, Snodderly is also a respected music educator. He has taught workshops and classes on various instruments and styles. He has served as an instructor at East Tennessee State University, where he has mentored some of the most talented artists in the industry. Most notably, Amythyst Kiah, who has received widespread acclaim for her exceptional work in the genre of roots and Americana music.

But Snodderly is more than just a musician that owns a venue who teaches songwriting for ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Program. He is also a storyteller, a poet, and a philosopher. He has packaged his latest crop of story songs together for his tenth studio album, Chimney Smoke out July 21st.

The tracks were written over the last five years in Snodderly’s East Tennessee home. Their origin lies in his desire to create a quintessential Southern album, a chronicle of his Appalachian roots and upbringing.

Recorded in Nashville by legendary and Grammy-winning engineer Bil VornDick (Allison Krauss, Bela Fleck, Bob Dylan, Ralph Stanley, Earls Of Leicester), he and Snodderly had previously worked together. Unfortunately, this would be their last collaboration. VornDick passed suddenly shortly after mixing the record from cancer. Featuring harmonious vocals from Hall of Fame songwriter Gretchen Peters and other veteran musicians, including Shawn Camp, Steve Conn, and Steve Hinson, the record has a definite vibe of southern sensibilities, southern upbringing, of memory, and songs that twist on the eclectic.

Glide is premiering the title track, “Chimney Smoke,” (below) featuring Amythist Kiah, which offers a vivid depiction of Appalachian life and is one of the prime examples of Snodderly’s gift for bringing memories and a deep sense of place to life with his intimate lyrics. Snodderly delivers a John Prine accessibility with his warm and earnest singing that defines “True Americana” in this effervescent single. There is also an effortless ring to his guitar-picking style that rings our ears to consider this original artist a true gift of song and story. Read on below for Snodderly’s insightful and candid look into the song…

What first comes to your mind when someone says Appalachian?… Your vision could be a cabin in the hills or the people who’ve persevered hardships. I bet you’ve heard this comment a time or two in reference to the Appalachian people, the southerners, my people: “Do you all wear shoes down there?” 

A derogatory comment indeed and laughed off with a roll of the eyes but still one I often heard in my youth.

 “Chimney Smoke” starts here with its own question and comment in the chorus. The story moves quickly in time and memory with lines such as.. “What your granny said and what your granny did…” Wisdom comes down from the mountains…and is carried like an antidote potion for living.

 I wasn’t sure when I finished the song if it was good enough but, lo and behold, it became the title track. Asking Amythyst Kiah to sing harmony felt like a natural choice. She and I met years ago at ETSU when she enrolled in several of my songwriting and guitar classes. We spent a lot of time picking guitar together on old time and country tunes. I’m tickled by her success these days! What a singer! Amythyst also understands the question in “Chimney Smoke,” – “I wanna ask, you might laugh. What’s it worth to sing this song? Can’t let get lost, can’t let get gone…”